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CAPE BIRD CLUB NEWSLETTER July 2016
Thank you to everyone who contributed items and photographs for the newsletter.
CLUB ACTIVITIES
Saturday 2 July OUTING ―Rondevlei Nature Reserve
Leader: Merle Chalton ☎ 079 343 1047
Meet at 08h30. These regular monthly outings are for all Rondevlei enthusiasts and beginners are especially welcome. Duration 2½ hrs.
There is a small entrance fee.
Remember to bring a warm jacket or anorak - it can be freezing in the hides, even on the hottest days!
Directions: Travel down the M5 (Prince George Drive) towards Grassy Park and look out for Nando’s at the 5th Avenue traffic light. Turn left here into 5th Avenue and at the first set of traffic lights turn right into Perth Road and continue to Rondevlei at the end of the road.
Thurs 14 July — EVENING MEETING
Birds of KwaZulu Natal
Speaker: Cathy Jenkins
Meet at 20h00.
Cathy is a member of the Cape Bird Club and a freelance nature guide.
Her talk will be about a trip taken to KwaZulu Natal in 2015 in the company of other CBC members and organised by Charles Saunders.
We meet at the Nassau Centre, Groote Schuur High School, Palmyra Road, Newlands.
Tea and biscuits are served after the meeting at a cost of R5.00.
Visitors are welcome - there is a charge of R10.00 for visitors and non-members.
Sun 17 July OUTING — Rooi Els , Stony Point, and Harold Porter Botanical Gardens
Meet at 08h00. We will take a short walk at Rooi Els where we will hopefully find Cape Rockjumpers. Following this we will visit the Stony Point Penguin Colony and the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens. The gardens and surrounding mountainside are some of the best areas to find Victorin’s Warbler, while Cape Sugarbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird, and Cape Siskin are also resident. An entrance fee will be payable unless you are a Botanical Society member. Bring water and a snack.
Directions: From Cape Town, take the N2 through Somerset West. On the ascent towards Sir Lowry’s Pass, turn right onto the R44 (Sir Lowry’s Pass Road) towards Gordon’s Bay. Continue straight on to the T-junction in Gordon’s Bay where you turn left, then swing right and continue on the R44 following the coastline. Cross the bridge at the start of Rooi Els village and take the first turn to the right (Anemone Street). Park at the small shopping centre close to the turnoff where we will consolidate the group into a smaller number of vehicles and continue to the 2nd turnoff (Porter Drive). We take this road/track to the end and park at the closed gate (parking limited).
Wed 27 July WEEKDAY OUTING — Macassar Wastewater Treatment Works
Leader: Simon Fogarty ☎ 021 701 6303 / 082 348 2465 or email fogarty@fhnewlands.co.za
Meet at 09h15. The Macassar Wastewater Treatment Works is situated at the estuary of the Eerste River and a large selection of bush, freshwater, and coastal birds may be seen, including possibly several raptor species.
Directions: Take the N2 towards Somerset West and turn off at Exit 38 (Macassar Road). This is the first off-ramp after the Engen One Stop. Turn right, through the traffic lights and after 500m look for a sewage pump station on the left. Just beyond this, turn left and wait at the security boom just before the bridge over the river. If travelling from Muizenberg on Baden Powell Drive, take the Macassar turnoff to the right, just after the small sewage works. After about 5 km, look for the pump station and turn right and wait at the boom. If you arrive early at the venue please do not wander around but stay in your car until the other members of the group arrive. For security reasons we hope to arrange to park inside the works area.
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FAMILY CAMP
23 – 25 September 2016 at Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
The Family Camp last year was such a SUCCESS that we are planning another Family Camp in September – on the last weekend of Term Three – when hopefully all sports matches are over. Also Saturday 24th is a public holiday – another reason we expect there will be no sports fixtures at schools! Our venue this time will be Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve near Robertson. See website - www.capenature.co.za/reserves/vrolijkheid-nature-reserve/
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve is a new venue for us and it looks super! We have booked 4 cottages, each of which can take 2 families (8 people).
Families (parents or grandparents) with a child / children between 8 and 15 years are encouraged to attend this camp. It will not necessarily be confined to Club members – so if you know of a family where parents and children have shown some interest in bird watching, invite them to join in the fun! We are encouraging young families to join us!
If you have one child get him/her to invite a friend to share the room!
The weekend will consist of one or two introductory birding interactive talks to whet the appetites of any beginners, and then some practical birding including outings to the adjoining Vrolijkheid Reserve and surrounding areas. We can promise learning and activity in a relaxed and fun environment, for all levels of children’s birding expertise.
Each family will cater for itself. Bedding and towels will be provided.
Cape Nature charges a set price per unit. The cost for the weekend will be R430 per person / R860 per two bedded room. We envisage 2 families sharing a cottage.
Thus costs per family will be as follows:
Family of 2 (e.g. Dad and son) (sharing 1 room) = R860 (accommodation only)
Family of 3 or 4 (will require 2 rooms) = R1720 (accommodation only)
Family of 5 or 6 (will require 3 rooms) = R2580 (accommodation only)
To avoid your having to pay daily conservation fees (R60 per adult and R30 per child for the weekend) you will also need to furnish us with your Wild Card number(s) upon booking.
If you do not have a Wild Card please add the appropriate amount payable to your camp fee payment.
Please let us know if you and your children are interested in joining this camp! We need to know whether it is worthwhile to continue with our planning.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE BOOKING FORM AND E-MAIL TO pbeeton@mweb.co.za
We require a firm commitment by Monday 4 July and payment by 16th July at the latest.
Please pay the camp fee as soon as possible into the CBC Account.
Banking details:
CBC
Nedbank
Account No. 1046380400
Claremont Branch, Code 104609.
Please provide as Reference your: Surname + FAMILY CAMP
Please e-mail pbeeton@mweb.co.za with proof of payment.
PAYMENT MUST BE MADE BY 16 JULY 2016
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To book contact Joy Fish (joyfishza@iafrica.com) or Barbara Jones (bemjones@telkomsa.net)
Please pay by EFT to Cape Bird Club, Nedbank Account number 1046380400, Branch Code 104609,
Use your SURNAME and JOSEPH as your reference.
Please email a copy of your proof of payment to Joy or Barbara.
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BIRD COUNTS AND HACKS
Sunday 3 July: Kirstenbosch BIRP Count.
Meet at 08h00
Leader: John Magner (082 881 3845)
Saturday 9 July: Zandvlei Hack
Meet at 14h00
Leader: Gavin Lawson (021 705 5224)
Sunday 10 July Strandfontein Count
Meet at 08h30 (note later winter starting time)
Leader: Dick Barnes (021 689 1106)
Thursday 14 July: Wildevoelvlei Count
Meet at 08h30
Leader: Eric Barnes (021 782 5429)
Friday 15 July: Rietvlei/Table Bay NR Quarterly Count
Meet at 09h00
Leader: Koos Retief (021 444 0315 (w)
Saturday 16 July: Zandvlei NR Quarterly Count
Meet at 08h00
Leader: Gavin Lawson (021 705 5224)
Thursday 21 July: Athlone WWTW Count
Meet at 13h00
Leader: Dick Bos (021 423 2546)
These counts will take place weather permitting
Saturday 23 July: Paarl Bird Sanctuary CWAC
Meet at 09h00
Leader: Yvonne Weiss (021 872 4972)
Saturday 30 July: CAR count (all day)
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KIRSTENBOSCH BIRD WALKS
Tuesday 12 July 2016
These bird walks led by members of the Cape and Tygerberg Bird Clubs have been so popular over the past 2 years that it has been decided to continue them into 2016.
Anyone who is interested in learning more about our Kirstenbosch birds is welcome to join the walks.
The walks are free of charge but the entrance fee for Kirstenbosch is payable if you do not have a BotSoc Card.
This month the walk will take place on Tuesday 12 July.
Meet at 8.30 am at the Information Desk at Gate One.
Leader: Cheryl Faull
Please contact Linda Hibbin on 021 788 1528, or e-mail hibbins@telkomsa.net if you have any questions
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Bring along a snack for tea time and some lunch. The presentations are sure to generate a number of questions and discussion points. There will be an opportunity at lunch time to chat to the presenters about any questions you may have.
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CAPE BIRD CLUB INTERNATIONAL TOUR 2017
CBC Tour Uganda in 2017
2 August to 17 August
Uganda offers huge biodiversity from tropical and afro-montane mountains to savannahs and wetlands. It boasts over 350 mammal species and over a 1000 bird species which includes the fabled Shoebill and a number of rift endemics.
It is no surprise therefore that this is the CBC international tour destination for August 2017.
We will be partnering with Bird Uganda Safaris and we are in the process of finalising a 16 day itinerary which will include Murchison Falls, Kibale and Bwindi forests, Queen Elizabeth NP, lakes and other top birding spots.
A number of people have expressed interest in joining a CBC Uganda tour so this is an early notice to enable those interested to plan.
We will limit the group size to 14 and places will be allocated on a first confirmed booking basis.
Anyone interested please contact Johan Schlebusch at:
johan.g.schlebusch@gmail.com or phone 0828049025.
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Membership of the Cape Bird Club
Please note that receipt of this newsletter or membership of the Facebook page does not imply that you are a member of the Cape Bird Club.
If you would like to become a member of the Cape Bird Club, please go to our website to download the application form or contact Joan Ackroyd on ackroyd.joan@broadwalk-mews.co.za or call 021 530 4435 for for more information
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Contributions for the Newsletter
Please send any contributions for the newsletter (interesting sightings, photographs or any interesting news items) to Cheryl Leslie at cdleslie@kingsley.co.za.
Photographs should not exceed 1MB in size.
Postal and Email addresses
Please ensure that we have your correct postal and email address, otherwise you may not receive the Bird Club newsletter or reminders.
Address changes: Please notify BirdLife promptly by post at Private Bag X5000 Parklands 2121 or fax to 011 789 5188 of any change in address to ensure that you continue receiving Promerops.
Email changes: Please contact BirdLife at membership@birdlife.org.za if you change your email address with a copy to ackroyd.joan@broadwalk-mews.co.za
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